TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — City of Toledo officials say it will cost thousands of dollars to replace dozens of decorative trees downtown killed by the heavy use of road salt over the winter.

City arborists have documented 147 trees in the downtown area that are dead or dying from the heavy and largely unavoidable use of salt on the streets.

The (Toledo) Blade (http://bit.ly/1h7GN5Q ) reports that replacing the trees will cost about $100 each. Replacing the salty soil around the trees will add to the bill.

Dennis Garvin, the city's parks, recreation and forestry commissioner, says it couldn't be helped. He says it snowed about every third day in the city from mid-December through March, and crews were constantly spreading salt.